Cundari Records 100th Career RBI as Baseball Sweeps Drew

MADISON, N.J. –Senior Mike Cundari (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) became the newest member of the 100-RBI club and freshman Nicholas LoPrinzi drove in seven runs as the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) baseball team exploded for 17 runs and 22 hits in game two of a 5-1 and 17-5  doubleheader sweep over Drew University on Saturday afternoon at Doc Young Field.

With his solo homer in the fourth inning of game one, Cundari became the second Bear all-time to record 100 RBI in a career, joining fellow senior Joe Mendez (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) as the lone Bears to ever record 100 RBI, 100 hits and 100 runs in a career.

St. Joseph's (26-9) has now won three in a row and are now winners of 15 of their last 16 games, while Drew (17-21) sees their season come to an end with a pair of losses.

The opener saw the Bears get off to an early 2-0 lead on a two-RBI single up the middle from LoPrinzi after two innings and would never trail again as St. Joseph's used a quartet of pitchers in freshman Mitch Brigando (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep), senior Donny Pagano (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's), freshman Connor Pasetti (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) and sophomore Brian Luebcke (Astoria, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) to hold the Rangers to only three hits and one run.

The Bears tacked on solo runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings courtesy of Cundari's first home run of the season in the fourth and a Mendez solo shot to left center in the sixth.

Brigando made his fifth start of the season on the bump and tossed a pair of scoreless innings with three strikeouts to move to 3-1 on the year.

The second game saw the St. Joseph's offense explode as Cundari and LoPrinzi each drove in five RBI as the Bears jumped out to a 10-0 lead after two and a half innings. The duo each had two-RBI singles in the second and LoPrinzi doubled home two more in the third and Cundari brought home freshman Anthony DeFillippo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian HS) with a double in the frame.

St. Joseph's built the lead to 13-2 after four innings as Mendez brought home two runs with a single to left field and Cundari plated a run after the Drew first baseman threw the ball away. The Bears added on four more in the sixth with Cundari bringing DeFillippo and junior Thomas McKenna (Bellerose, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) around to score on a double to right center. Mendez doubled down the left-field line to bring in a run and LoPrinzi concluded the scoring on the day with a sacrifice fly to left.

Sophomore Sean O'Melia (Woodside, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) made the start and went the first three innings, allowing only two unearned run to pick up his third win of the season.

Cundari finished the day an impressive 6-for-9 with two doubles, six RBI and four runs scored, while LoPrinzi had a career day going 5-for-7 with seven RBI and a double. Mendez added his ninth homer of the year and ended up 3-for-6 driving in four runs and scoring four runs. Freshman Francis Rapp (Baldwin, N.Y./Oceanside) went 4-for-7 with three runs scored and a double. McKenna concluded the day 3-for-9 with four runs scored and two doubles, while DeFillippo went 2-for-4, scoring three times and driving in a pair in game two.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORES

• Other Contributors: Chris Cutrone (4-for-7,  2B, RBI, R) Thomas Decapua (GM 2: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R) Luebcke (GM 1: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K)
• St. Joseph's smacked eight doubles in game two which is a school record.
• The Bears racked up nine hits in the opener and held the Rangers to just eight hits in the nightcap after surrendering three in the opener.
• After only one error combined in the opener, the second game got sloppy as St. Joseph's committed five errors and Drew made three miscues.
• The Bears had opportunities for more runs in the second game, leaving ten men on base, while the Rangers left 13 stranded between the two games.

THE BEAR FACTS

• The Bears improve to 4-3 all-time against the Rangers, winning the last four meetings.
• Vinny Rossi went 0-for-3 in game one and remains one hit shy of 100 for his career.
• McKenna needs one stolen base to become St. Joseph's all-time career leader.
• Domenick Camerada has now reached base safely in 16 consecutive games.
• St. Joseph's finishes their road slate 14-1 with the 14 wins being a school record.
• The five RBI in game two for Cundari and LoPrinzi are career highs for both.

NEXT UP FOR THE BEARS – CCNY

St. Joseph's is back at it tomorrow as they host CCNY for a doubleheader in their regular season finale at the SJC Outdoor at 10:30 a.m.